The 12 Dukes of Christmas #1, A brand new series by Erica Ridley this first story is a fun Regency era retelling of The Christmas Carol. It was a quick and fun read I enjoyed all the little similarities to Christmas Carol, stuff like a pygmy goat named Tiny Tim. 

Benjamin Ward the Duke of Silkridge returns to the place he never wanted to come back to his grandfather's home, a small village up in the mountains called Cressmouth or as the local affectionately call it Christmas. His grandfather, Marlowe, was eccentric and much loved by everyone in town but to Benjamin he was cruel and hateful. Five years ago Benjamin's grandfather took something of his and than kicked him out of the town. It no longer mattered that Benjamin fell in love there he only cared about when he could get his family heirloom back. 

Noelle Pratchett was abandoned as a baby left on a doorstep. Noelle thankful for the care she received from Mr. Marlowe and the entire town she makes herself indispensable by being at their service making sure the town runs smoothly. She took over for the clerk and now practically runs the town. Now that Mr. Marlowe is dead she was bequeathed enough money that she could do whatever she wanted but she loves her little town and wouldn't dream of leaving Christmas. Noelle never planned to fall in love with Benjamin but then he left without saying goodbye and suddenly every other man paled in comparison to him. Now he's back, an older colder version of himself but hour by hour she sees the man he once was but try as she may not to fall back in love because he still plans on leaving Christmas again never to return she still does. Noelle can only hope his love her her is greater than his hatred for his grandfather.

Overall, this was a great read. It's a fun historical romantic Christmas comedy. The characters were all delightful and quirky. Erica Ridley's writing is as always fantastic. I can't wait to met the other dukes.

The Duke of Silkridge has returned to the reading of his grandfather's will in the mountains where his grandfather lived. The Duke was not there for any reason except to get the necklace with the family image inside. His grandfather blamed him for the death of his daughter as she died soon after Benjamin's birth. Noelle was deeply involved in the town that celebrated Christmas all of the time. Can these two who have an attraction for each other from the last time he was there? This story teaches them about there is more in life than they think to have a future.

Once Upon a Duke (12 Dukes of Christmas #1) 
by Erica Ridley 

Funny, witty, entertaining, and CHRISTMAS.... all my favorites !

It is definitely a buy buy buy buy buy book. I love Christmas... so reading a historical romance with so much of my favorite was wonderful! This book was witty at times, snarky at times, funny with comebacks. Then it turns and becomes heart touching and romantic and passionate. Each element made this one a great read for me. It is light but deep, funny but serious.... All in all I absolutely adored it! The writer has such a special way of expressing her stories that create pictures in my own mind as I read. I so enjoy that part! I refuse to write more as I do not write spoilers.... so I will say this buy buy buy buy buy! Sit when you can be alone, relax and let it take you on an enjoyable journey of another time and place. I was given this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. Regards, Anna

Once Upon A Duke ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️by Erica Ridley

A Christmas tale of a Scrooge like Duke and his hate for Christmas and all its trappings.

It was an amusing book with the thought of a town celebrating Christmas every day year round but a bit lacking of any general substance to the story.

My four stars are for this fabulous author only.

I enjoyed reading the majority of this book. There were a few chapters that would not be appropriate for a church library so that is the reason we will not purchase it. I will tell my friends about it. Many enjoy reading period pieces and this one is good. The characters were well developed too.

A lovely Christmas story about second chances, learning to compromise without giving up your self, Christmas spirit and so much more. Really enjoyable story. Thank you #NetGalley and publisher for a chance to read an advance copy.

Beautiful story. Erica weaves such a world you feel you are apart of it. Lovely. Such great funny characters.

This is a nice holiday read with a nod towards the classics. It was quirky and cute.  Not totally my type of read but I did enjoy it.

This was a heartwarming historical romance with a Christmas theme. The story was sweet and good natured centering around a duke, an orphaned woman and a town perpetually in the Christmas spirit. There were a few plot holes that were left unanswered by the end of the book involving the duke and his grandfather. 

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

This is a great read.  The author makes you care about the characters. Do not think that it is all feel good just like life it takes a turn and you will find yourself wanting to rush to end of the book to find out on things turn out (don't do it). It is well written and you will not want to stop reading until you get to the end.

Once Upon A Duke features Benjamin, Duke of Silkridge. He’s travelling to his estranged late grandfathers home hopefully to retrieve his most treasured possession, a locket containing the only portrait of his mother who died at Christmas shortly after giving birth to him.   A locket that his grandfather stole from him before throwing him out and banishing him.  When he left the first time, he didn’t realise he was also leaving his heart behind.  Noelle Pratchett is a foundling, abandoned on the steps of his grandfather’s castle as a baby. Her whole life revolves around the castle and the surrounding village – Cressmouth, the place where they’ve made a business out of it being  ‘Christmas all year round’.  She doesn’t need anything else especially not an arrogant and cold-hearted duke who broke her heart five years before with his abrupt departure.  

This is basically a re-telling of A Christmas Carol combined with The Twelve Days of Christmas set in regency times.  The fun lies in spotting all the references from a partridge in a pear tree to twelve lords although in this case the lords have been exchanged for dukes but I think Charles Dickens himself would be surprised by the form Tiny Tim takes in this version.  This is a heart-warming story, short and sweet.  I did get a little bored by the whole Cressmouth/Christmas thing and the overwhelming happiness everyone seemed to feel and I felt it was missing a good villain.  Cressmouth is alright for a visit but I wouldn’t want to live there – bah humbug!!!

This was a cute Regency second chance romance, but it didn’t wow me the way some of Ms. Ridley’s other books have. The book is well written with lovely descriptive text. It’s a relatively short read that mixes the hero and heroine’s past traumas with considerable silliness, including frequent references to classic holiday literature and songs. I just didn’t find it as funny as I think it was meant to be, although some of the dialog was clever. That said, the romance between our main characters is quite sweet, and perhaps it will be just what you need to put you in the holiday spirit.

Note that there is one fairly explicit scene of premarital sex if such things bother you.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting. The ARC I received was well written and neatly formatted; I noticed only a few proofreading errors, which may have been corrected before publication. If not, the errors were sufficiently minor and infrequent enough that I doubt they would interfere with most readers' enjoyment of the book.

This is a true Yuetide tale. It's a re-telling of Dickens' " Christmas Carol" in a slightly different setting. I found it rather cute for a while but I can't say that I thought it either moving or romantic. Most of the characters have similar names to those in the classic and the setting is a town named Cressmouth, caled "Christmas" by the residents..I thought the gimmick got old after a while but maybe that will sound like "bah, humbug" to others. Definitely for those who enjoy immersion in the Christmas experience.

Noelle and Benjamin exchanged one kiss years ago, and then he left. However, when he returns two years later both realize that their love never ceased, but both have a life they can not abandon for each other. How sadly hopeless. Of course, there is a Happy Ending in sight - just how? 
This was an easy going romance, not as "laugh-out-loud" funny as advertised, but still an entertaining holiday read. It could have done with a few less references to Christmas - the joke of mixing up the holiday with the towns name got fairly old fairly quickly. And why the deceased father's will was worded as it was would have been a nice, yet missing, revelation.

This was an adorable read. It had a good conclusion even though it seemed to end too soon as I couldn't put it down. Loved it

Benjamin is the Duke of Silkridge, justifiably hates Christmas and he doesn’t have a reason to celebrate Christmas.  The village of Cressmouth is both home and family that Orphan Noelle has never known. Poor Benjamin trying to meet the terms of his grandfather’s will means he’s stuck in village of Cressmouth at Christmas for the time being while he tries to find a family heirloom. A play on Scrooge …bah humbug can the town of Cresswood thaw is heart and allow him to find love. Noelle is drawn to his charms, but can she trust her heart to him? A delightful Christmas story with excellent characters with a growing attraction and romance for the holidays. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

A short sweet story full of Christmas spirit, Once Upon a Duke uses famous Christmas stories as punny jokes to make a delightful story.  Tiny Tim is a goat, Fuzzy Wig is the grandfather's old money counter and so on, will inspire little chuckles keeping the story like and fun.  I can see this as a rom-com holiday Hallmark movie that would become an instant favorite.  I hope there will be more in the series, Twelve Dukes of Christmas.

This was a cute Christmas story. I enjoyed the interaction between Noelle and Benjamin. It is a pretty quick read that is sweet but has some mature dialog. I liked the nod to Dickens' A Christmas Story and I liked that the characters moved on from the past.

Benjamin Ward, the Duke of Silkridge is in a village he thought he would never return to for the reading of his maternal grandfather's will.  His one goal is to get back the portrait locket containing the last picture painted of his mother.   

His grandfather had transformed the village of Cressmouth into Christmas creating a thriving village for the residence.  One of the residence, Noelle Pratchett, once fell in love with Benjamin.  When he returns, Noelle knows she must protect her heart because a duke will not marry an orphan.  Due to a request in his grandfather's will, Benjamin must stay in Christmas longer than he wanted to and as Noelle assists him in his quest, he slowly realizes that she is the one woman he loves.  Can Benjamin win Noelle's trust and heart back with Christmas magic?

I enjoyed reading this book.  I liked the characters and their banter.  The book was romantic and yet at the same time, there was a lot of humor.  I felt bad for Benjamin and his relationship with his grandfather.  Noelle was his perfect heroine.  She helped Benjamin achieve the peace he was seeking.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you!

A really delightful holiday story, even though it really isn't Christmas. Lots of bah humbug meets indominable goodwill and friendliness. Underlying this romance is a strong sense of loss and loneliness. All of the quirky events that this poor Duke suffers through softens his heart without him knowing it. Well written and enjoyable, this is the perfect story to get you in the Christmas spirit.